Mission
To serve, mentor and empower Black Canadians through the power of community.
ABOUT CBNA
Advancing Black Nursing Leadership. Strengthening Canada.
CBNA is Canada's national organization advancing leadership, belonging, advocacy, research, and opportunity for Black nursing students and professionals. We work across education, healthcare, and policy to strengthen the profession and create a more equitable healthcare system for all
17+ Academic Chapters. 10,000 Community Members. 200+ Mentorship Participants. 100+ Students Served Annually. National Policy Engagement. Canada-wide Representation & Impact
Our Story
Founded in 2020 by nurses who recognized the need for a unified national voice, CBNA has grown into a coast-to-coast movement connecting students, clinicians, educators, executives, researchers, and allies. We were built on lived experience, strengthened by scholarship, and driven by a commitment to transform the future of nursing in Canada.
Founded by
With foundational contributorsNadine Smith · Shauntonnie Henry · Sarah Musabimana
Core Values
- Leadership
- Equity
- Inclusion
- Education
- Mentorship
- Advocacy
- Partnerships
Vision
To be the leading organization that serves the Black Canadian Nursing community.
Read Our Strategic Plan
Our Journey
The Spark
CBNA was founded in response to a documented gap: no national organization existed for Black nurses in Canada. No community, no infrastructure, no pipeline existed to support them. That gap became the founding rationale, and nurses began mobilizing coast to coast around a single conviction: the absence of a national structure was not permanent, it was simply unbuilt.
Our Position
Why We Center Black Nursing Leadership
Black nurses bring expertise, innovation, leadership, and lived experience that improve healthcare systems for everyone. Our position is rooted in equity, evidence, and a commitment to meaningful change.
Centering Black Nurses Strengthens Healthcare
Equitable systems are built when Black nurses lead, innovate, and shape the future of care.
Black-Focused Does Not Mean Exclusive
Equity requires intentional investment where inequities continue to exist.
Evidence, Leadership, Accountability
Our programs and advocacy are guided by data, lived experience, and measurable outcomes.
Healthcare Equity Benefits Everyone
When Black nurses thrive, patients receive better care and communities experience better outcomes.
Our Leadership
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